The vaping battle: Loitering teen Kamo vapers raising concern among public

Kamo High School regularly fields calls from members of the public about loitering teen vapers, not necessarily from their school. Photo / Tania Whyte

As vaping becomes more and more popular so do the risks posed and a new battle for schools. In the fourth of a four-part series, Jodi Bryant looks at how close to schools vape retailers are.

The proximity of vape retailers to education centres is linked to escalating numbers of student vapers, Northland secondary school principals believe.

An online search of vape retailers in Northland brought up a dozen mostly based in central locations, within walking distances to schools. However, they are also sold at dairies, supermarkets, service stations and convenience stores.

Kamo High School is situated among multiple vape retailers, including one directly across the road.

Kamo High School is surrounded by vape retailers. Photo / John Stone

Principal Natasha Hemara said she believed it had contributed to the rise in students vaping.

"There's a correlation there between the increase [in vaping activity among students] and the vape shop as we didn't have an issue earlier," she said.

"We need to continue to educate and update [on vaping] and I don't think vape retailers should be anywhere near schools."

Hemara said that in her previous roles at schools in other areas, vaping had started to pop up. However, it hadn't been a problem at Kamo High School until the beginning of the year, about the time the shop selling vape products opened across the road.

Since then she had been fielding daily calls from members of the public about students - not always from Kamo High - vaping in public outside school time.

"Assumptions are made, but we are a hub of multiple schools and Kamo is also the drop-off and pick-up point to get to other education centres."

Regardless of where the students were educated, she believed it was a community issue.

While she hadn't witnessed students buying directly from the local suppliers, Hemara said: "I don't think [the vape shop] is something that's a good look in front of a school, but there is no legislation precluding that in our district."

School students leaving a vape store in Kamo on Friday. Photo / Tania Whyte

Tikipunga High School principal and Te Manihi Tumuaki (Northland secondary principals association) chairman Alec Solomon said he was keen to see strong regulations around the selling of vape products, including their location.

"What we'd like to see is vaping products not available to be sold anywhere near any kura. Our tamariki are taonga and we've got to look after them. We've got to make it as easy as possible for them to make healthy choices.

"I'm keen to see very strong regulations as to who they're sold to and where from. We'd like to see some very hard and fast guidelines around selling, in particular the location of them. We'd prefer these products weren't available in such proximity to schools."

Whangārei Boys' High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith said the Government needed to consider more rigorous legislation around the supply of vapes.

"I think the whole community need to get in behind it and become vigilant, and we're looking to the Government and police to give assistance and follow up with those selling it illegally. We also need to get the public health message out there.

"It seems to be freely available and it's all a bit like no one's paying attention to the effect it's having on young people."

A range of vape products in a shop across the road from Kamo High School. Photo / Tania Whyte

A worker at the vape retailer across the road from Kamo High School told the Northern Advocate they did not sell vape products to students. Students did enter the shop in uniform, but it was to purchase lollies and batteries. The worker said she hadn't been approached by a student in uniform trying to purchase vape paraphernalia.

"I think they know. We follow the regulations from the law. If they look young, I always ask them for ID, especially the first few times until I get to know them."

While the Advocate was present, a youth approached the counter, requested a mango vape flavour and produced his ID without being questioned.

"He looks quite young," the worker commented after he left. "He's come in here before, but knew to have his ID ready."

She said she suspected the under-age vapers were being supplied by family members but, as a retailer, this was not something that could be regulated.

"I think some of their parents allow them to smoke because the whole family are smoking and vaping. I think maybe the Government could do more promotion around educating kids on why they shouldn't smoke and vape."

Along the road were dairies, a service station and Coin Saver, all of which sell vape products.

A nearby dairy worker said groups of students from various schools regularly hung outside the shop vaping after school.

"Every day between 3-3.30pm they stand out there vaping. Teachers and the principal approach them and tell them to stop, but they don't listen."

He said while his store sold vaping products, it didn't sell to students.

One store assistant said dozens of students hung around the shopfront and carpark vaping, which was intimidating for their customers.

"The majority of our customers are elderly as this is our demographic. It just deters them from coming in."

While a law change will have flavoured e-liquids banned from general stores from August, restricting them to sell mint, menthol and tobacco flavours prohibited to under-18s, they will still be available from specialist vape retailers. As of June, 484 retailers nationwide had applied to be specialist vape retailers.